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Sunday, August 26, 2012

A wonderful blog from a Grade 4 teacher, my friend and Flat Classroom educator in Beijing, Shannon O'Dwyer. This style of writing really brings the classroom out to the world and invites interaction from a global audience!

Flat Classroom, in conjunction with Taking IT Global - 'Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds'
Starts August 22 5pm EST, (August 23 7am Australia)
Followed by 3 further sessions over the next few weeks.
Come and discuss global collaboration and how to flatten your classroom.

Powerful Learning Practice one-day live conference September 28 in Philadelphia - lots of talking, lots of sessions, some innovation in conference design....but where are the students, and where is the true collaboration and co-creation?

Tom Whitby writes a provocative blog post about Connected Educator Month, August 2012. He states: "No, to be a good teacher, one does not need to be connected. However, the question is if you are a good teacher and unconnected, could you be a better teacher if you were connected? Shouldn’t we strive to be the best that we can be? It’s not only an Army thing. Being connected offers not only exposure to content and ideas but also the ability to create and collaborate on ideas. Being connected fosters transparency and debunks myths of education that have been harbored in the previous isolation of the education profession. This is the stuff of a true learner’s dreams, and, as educators, are we not all learners?"

Article by Andrew Churches, http://edorigami.edublogs.org/, talking about the benefits of global learning, and gives a great wrap for Flat Classroom.
"Our classrooms are not limited to the four walls of the physical building we teach in but can encompass the entirety of the planet. Technology—much of which is free—has enabled us to push back the classroom walls and stretch our virtual arms across the globe to shake hands with classrooms and students almost anywhere."

Wow! This is great! The article on the eReader was very informative as well. I'm using the eReader article to help me with me current research on using eReaders in the classroom. Thanks Julie!! - post by Craig Union

One of many available videos on You Tube that share classroom practice and show transformation of learning using technology.
This one talks about the 3R's: Reread, Record and Reflect with 6 year old students

"Thus while the results indicated small or negligible effects on academic achievement, positive impacts were found in relation to cognitive competences. The study concludes that in order to improve Math and Language skills, laptop computers are not enough; high-quality instruction is necessary. The study suggests combining the provision of laptops with a pedagogical model targeted toward increased achievement by students. "

Thus while the results indicated small or negligible effects on academic achievement, positive impacts were found in relation to cognitive competences. The study concludes that in order to improve Math and Language skills, laptop computers are not enough; high-quality instruction is necessary. The study suggests combining the provision of laptops with a pedagogical model targeted toward increased achievement by students.

Their motto: 'Do it, then Think!' - Well! How many educators get to work within an environment that really encourages risk-taking?

Many places and spaces designed or organised to meet the needs of a diverse range of learners

Cross-classroom AND cross-age teaching - for example all of Grade 5 and 6 together in the one very large learning space, with a 2-year curriculum

A library with no books! At last I have found a school strong enough to get rid of the rows of (largely) books that nobody borrows or reads anymore in that environment. Wisely they have moved books to curriculum areas, or year levels, where they are still used as needed. But now the library is a SPACE with movable furniture and partitions ready for all sorts of purposes

The 'whiteboard' paint on the walls. I cannot remember seeing this in a school before, but knew it was a little costly. Such a wonderful innovation....and IMHO beats installing (expensive) whiteboards

Mobility and flexibility of learning while mobile - YES! Similar to my school in Beijing, NBCS has a BYOD policy, where students and teachers can bring whatever device they need to connect to the robust wireless network. This was supported by 'trolley's' of laptops for loan in the library space, as well as collections of desktop computers in many classrooms with particular software for curriculum needs

A faculty that actually enjoyed talking about pedagogy and was encouraged to be innovative. Such a joy! Not that this is uncommon in other schools......or is it?

The general aesthetics of the buildings and surrounds - yes a beautiful Australian setting, with many building design innovations

The fact that a number of NBCS teachers connected with me and tweeted with me during and after our visit.....a connected and collaborative working environment with confidence using Web 2.0 tools and technology for learning

We are currently talking about NBCS possibly hosting a Flat Classroom Conference in late 2013. What an excellent venue, and what wonderful teachers and students to be hosts for an international community-based, project-based event. Stay tuned for more updates!